biscornu

The pin cushion is finished!

Started at an LAX, and the button in the center was sewn last night at the airport before leaving New York. Yea. 

Once I saw a little pin cushion that was the nicest shape, two squares that made a sort of circle. Research revealed that there is name for this type of cushion, a biscornu. They are very easy to make, and I found all the instructions needed here at Own Two Hands. This biscornu is made from a scrap of fabric and a swatch of leather a friend gave me. When she handed me the four leather swatches two years ago she said, "I don't know what you can do with them, but I figured you'd be able to think of something." I did.

So, the stuffing. I did use hair. I'd heard about it and had to see how it works. I've had some questions about it so here are answers. The hair was not gathered from a hair brush. I am sure that would work, but I saved the clippings when I trimmed my hair. I lined the sink with paper towels and I cut my hair dry, so I just took what fell on the the towels and put it in a Ziplock bag. It took forever to save enough. I'm sure if I was willing to save what I swept from the floor I would have had a pin cushion much sooner. My hair is straight, but it turns out short pieces of clean, straight, hair will grip enough to make a tight ball. I lined the top of the cushion with a layer of old, ratty, blanket (Thanks Dave for contributing a bit of Old Brownie!) so no hair could slip through. When I put the pins in for the picture it felt just like a regular pin cushion. You'd never know that there is human hair inside unless you were told. 

If anyone else makes a pin cushion stuffed with hair I'd love to hear how yours turns out. I feel I need to elevate the level of my work to be worthy of such a cute pin cushion.